Rules ›

Overtaking

The check asks when you may overtake, which way to pass, and where overtaking is banned. In Japan you drive on the left, so you normally pass on the right, and there are many banned places.

Key rules

• Pass on the right side of the car ahead. Exceptions: pass on the left if the car ahead is moving to the centre to turn right, or if it is a tram.
• Do not overtake if the car ahead is already overtaking another car.
• Do not overtake if the car ahead is about to move right, for example to turn right.
• Do not overtake if the car behind you is trying to overtake you.
• Do not overtake near a road sign that bans overtaking, near a sharp bend, near the top of a hill, or on a steep downhill.
• Do not overtake in a tunnel, unless the tunnel has lanes (車両通行帯).
• Do not overtake at an intersection or within 30 m before it. This does not apply on a priority road.
• Do not overtake at a railway crossing, a crosswalk or a bicycle crossing, or within 30 m before them.
• When you are being overtaken, do not speed up. If there is not enough room, move left and give way.

Numbers to remember

Common traps

• "Always pass on the right" is not fully true: you pass on the left a car that is turning right from the centre, and a tram.
• The 30 m rule has an exception at intersections (priority road), but none at crosswalks.
• Tunnels: overtaking is banned only when there are no lanes. With lanes it is allowed.
• A sign banning overtaking and a sign banning crossing to the right to overtake are different signs.
• After overtaking in the rightmost lane, you must return to another lane quickly.

Japan drives on the left, so you overtake on the right. The banned places are stricter than in many countries, especially the 30 m zones before crosswalks and intersections.

Try 2 questions

Practise this topic Start the free 10-question test →